Safety hat or cap



June 6, 1933. A. A. STRAUSS SAFETY HAT OR CAP Filed Feb. 6, 1933 3Sheets-Sheet 1 ilk/room x gvwc/wl'o'b Zberifl Jiramu June 6, 1933. A, A.STRAUSS SAFETY HAT OR CAP Filed Feb. 6, 1933 3 Sheets-Sheet A zbkiA.Jirazwu June 6, 1933.

A. A. STRAUSS 1,912,551

SAFETY HAT OR CAP Filed Feb. 6, 1935 3 Sheets-Sheet 5N Patented June 6,1933 PATENT? OFFICE ALBERT A. STRAUSS, OF PITTSBURGH, PENNSYLVANIASAFETY HAT 03 CAP Application filed February 6, 1933. Serial No.655,538.

This invention relates to hats or caps of the type used to protect thehead of the wearer from blows effected by dropped articles or bystriking the head against beams and the like in mines and other placeshaving low head room.

Included in the objects of the invention are the provision of a novelgeneral construction of hat or cap adapted to be worn by persons indanger of striking their heads against obstructions or to have objectsdrop on their heads; to provide novel means at the crown portion of thehat or cap for stiffening such crown portion and preventing flexure andbreakage under impact; to provide novel ventilating means for such a hator cap; and to provide a novel arrangement for adjusting the shape ofthe hat or cap body and retaining it in adjusted shape.

With the above and other objects in view, as will be hereinafterapparent, certain preferred constructive forms of the invention will nowbe described and specifically claimed, reference being had to theaccompanying drawings, wherein:

Figure l is a perspective view of one embodiment of the invention.

Figure 2 is a vertical section on the longitudinal plane of the formshown in Figure 1.

Figure 3 is a section, partly broken away, on the line 33 of Figure 2.

Figure 4 is a detail section on the line 4-4 of Figure 1.

Figure 5 is a side elevation of another embodiment of the inventiomFigure 6 is a vertical section of the form shownin Figure 5, the sectionbeing taken on the longitudinal median plane thereof.

Figure 7 is a detail section on the line 77 of Fig. 5.

Figure 8 is a plan view of a, portion of the crown of the cap shown inFig. 5.

Figure 9 is a longitudinal perspective view of further modification ofmy invention.

Figure 10 is a vertical sectional view on the line 1010 of Fig. 9.

Figure 11 is a bottom plan view of the form shown in Fig. 9; and

Figure 12 is a fra entary detail taken on the line 1212 of Flg. 9,showin the ofiset or shoulder in the upper part of body portion forminga ledge to receive the lower edge of the crown portion.

The body 10 of each form of the invention here disclosed consists of awide flat endless band of suitable rigid and electrically nonconductivematerial such as fibre, or treated animal, vegetable or mineral matter,or chemical compounds capable of being pressed or molded to form. r Theband is shaped to form a substantially oval structure in plan as may beclearly seen by reference to Figure 3. A visor or peak 11 is providedwith a flange 12 and is attached to the front of the body 10 by sewingor by any suitable fastening means, such as rivets 13. The visor ispreferably made of leather. A sweat band 14 is fitted inside the lowerportion of the body and has its lower edge turned outwardly and upwardlyto embrace the lower edge of the body. The flange 15 formed by thisupturned portion is secured to the lower edge portion of the body bysewing or any suitable means such as the rivets 16. This sweat band ispreferably made of soft leather or other soft material so as to preventchafing of ones head by the hard lower edge of the body.

While the body 10 is to be made in various sizesto accommodatevariations in head size, consideration must be given to the fact thatheads of the same circumference vary in length and width and, with astill body, such as is here used, much discomfort would be entailed wereno provision made for adjustment to fit heads of diiferent proportions.Certain means are provided to eflect such adjustment as will now bedescribed. Referring to Figs. 1, 2 and 3, stiff cross bands 17 and 18extend transversely of the body, the longitudinal center lines of thesebands being, in plan, respectively coincident with the longer andshorter axes of the oval body respectively. A down-turned end or flange19 is formed on each of these bands and lies against the upper edgeportion of the body 10 when it is fixedly secured by the rivets 20 orother suitable means. The remaining end of each of these bands is spacedfrom the body wall opposite the point at which it is secured. Lacingholes 21 are provided in their free ends and lacings 22 extend throughthese holes and through suitable holes in the body of the cap to itsexterior where they are tied. Obviously, by tightening the lacing forone band and loosening that for the other the body may be contracted inone direction and allowed to expand in the other. Thus the body may beadjusted in shape to prevent discomfort to the wearer.

In Figure 1 the cap is shown as fitted with means to protect the ears.To this end a transversely arcuate ear guard 23 extends outwardly fromeach side of the body and inclines slightly downward with respectthereto. A flange 24 is formed on the inner end of each guard and fitsagainst the body and rivets 25 or other suitable fastening means securethe flange to the body.

In Figures 1 to 4 the cap is shown as provided with a crown formed oflike material as the body. This crown has, in these figures a low domelike body portion 26 provided with a down-turned peripheral edge portion27 fitting around the outer surface of the upper edge portion of thebody 10. A hollow boss 28 projects upwardly from the center of the bodyportion. Tapered flutes 29 are formed radially of the body portion 26and open at their smaller ends into the hollow boss 28 while theirlarger ends terminate flush with the lower edge of the edge portion 27and are open at these larger ends. These flutes are arranged in pairsleading away from the boss 28 in diametrically opposite directions.Registering perforations or lacing holes 30 are formed in the lappingportions of the body and crown and a lacing cord or=strip-31 is lacedthrough these perforations to securely hold the two together. Thislacing cord is pulled taut before being tied so that it acts as atension member to reinforce the cap at the junction of the body andcrown and thus assists in preventing the spreading of these parts in theevent of the crown receiving a heavy blow. A dome member 32 covers thecentral portion of the body portion 26 and a peripheral flange 33 onthis dome member is secured by rivets 3A or other suitable fastenings tosaid portion 26. It will be seen that the periphery of the dome memberand its flange are arched to fit over the flutes 29 and that the domemember is so shaped that it is centrally well spaced from the boss 28and flutes 29. This dome member effects spreading of the stresses due todirect vertical blows on the central portion of the cap and thusincreases the resistance of the crown portion against distortion orfracture.

In the form of the'invention shown in Figures 5 to 8 the body portion 35of the crown is of substantially hemispherical form and has a verticaledge portion 36 fitting on the outer face of the upper edge portion ofthe body 10. As in the previous form a central and upstanding hollowboss-37 is provided and tapered flutes 38 radiate therefrom. The

upstanding convex boss at the center of the crown increases theresistance to a heavy blow and also serves to distribute the shock tothe radiating flutes directly connected therewith, thereby distributingthe effect of the blow to the entire circumference of the body portion,thus preventingany concentration of a blow upon any part of the head ofthe wearer. The larger open ends of these flutes terminate slightlyabove the bottom edge of the portion 36. Tabs 39 struck out of the body10 near its upper edge, extend through the portion 36 and are bent tolie flat against the outer face of the body as may be seen in Figure 7.In this form the tabs take the place of the lacing in the first form. Itis to be understood, however, that the invention is not confined to theuse of these two forms of means for securing the crown to the body sinceother means may be used for this purpose.

In the form shown in Figs. 9 to 12 the upper margin of the body 10 istapered inwardly at 10 at the same inclination as the lower margin ofthe crown, so that these parts may interfit closely and be drawn tightlytogether by means of a lacing cord 31. In this form the crown is soshaped and constructed that its edge extends to and rests upon a ledgeor shoulder 10 formed in the body at the junction of the vertical bandportion and the inwardly tapering upper margin 10". By means of thisconstruction it will be seen that the shocks due to impact or blows uponthe crown which are transmitted radially in all directions to the bodyportion are received both by the tension or lacing cord 31 and by theledge or shoulder 10". The shoulder or ledge thus acts as an abutmentfor the bottom edge of the crown, preventing undue strains upon thelacing cord and resisting any tendency of the crown to spread down overthe body 10. The edge of the crown is thus held flush with the verticalbody portion.

The ventilation of the hat is enhanced in the form shown in Figs. 9 and10 by the tapering upper margin of the body portion. As shown in Fig.10, the inward and upward inclination of the wall 10 provides a widerthroat for the ingress and escape of currents of air and cooperates withthe upwardly slanting mouth of the flutes 38, to direct the air over theinner arched wall of the crown, thus keeping the head of the wearercool.

It is customary to provide an inner lining of cloth secured to the bodybeneath the sweat band and gathered at the top by a drawstring. Thisenvelopes the head too closely and does not protect the headsufficiently in case of a hard blow. I have devised a head support orhammock lining, shown in Figs. 10 and 11, consisting of two wideflexible members 40 and 41, having their outer ends sewed or otherwisesecured to the opposite sides of tapered upper marr gin of the bodyportion, and having their inner overlapping ends laced together. Aplurality. of rows of lacing holes provide means for adjustment to suitthe head of the wearer. This hammock type of head support prevents thehat or cap from bem driven down over the head, while being su cientlyflexible to cause no discomfort. Moreover it does not interfere with theproper ventilation of the crown. By tying the opposite sides together,in case of a severe blow, it serves as a reinforcing strut across thebase of the crown. The sweat band 14 may be shaped to enclose a cushionmember 14 between the band and the body 10. Furthermore the relativeproportions of the length and width may be varied by proper adjustmentof the overlapping endsof the members 40 and 41.

This case is a continuation in part of my prior' application Serial No.628,740 filed August 13, 1932.

I claim:

1. In a hat of the type described, a dom like rigid crown havingacentrally disposed upstanding hollow boss and provided with hollowupstanding flutes radiating from said boss and opening thereinto.

- 2. In a hat of the type described, a dome like rigid crown having acentrally disposed upstanding hollow boss and provided with hollowupstanding flutes radiating from said boss and opening thereinto, theperipheral portion of said crown being substantially vertical and theflutes terminating at said substantially vertical portion and havingtheir outer ends open to the air.

3. In a hat of the type described, a dome like rigid crown having acentrally disposed upstanding hollow boss and provided with hollowupstanding flutes radiating from said boss and opening thereinto, arigid body having its upper edge fltted within the peripheral portion ofthe crown, and means for securing the interfitting portions together. 1

4. In a hat of the type described, a dome like rigid crown having acentrally disposed upstanding hollow boss and provided with hollowupstanding flutes radiating from said boss and opening thereinto, arigid body having its upper edge interfitted with the peripheral portionof-the crown, and a lacing securing said interfitted portions togetherand constituting a tension member reinforcing the cap against distortionby outward spreading.

5. In a hat of the type described, a dome like rigid'crown having asubstantially vertical peripheral portion, a rigid body having its upperedge interfitting with said peripheral portion, and a lacing securingthe interfitting portions together and constitutin a tension memberreinforcing the cap along the line of-its application against distortionby outward spreading.

6. In a hat of the type described, a rigid substantially oval body, arigid dome like crown having a peripheral portion interfitting with theupper edge of said body, means to secure the interfitting portions ofthecrown and body together, and adjusting means at the upper edgeportion of the body for adjusting the length and width of the bodyrelative to each other.

7. In a hat of the type described, a dome like rigid crown having acentrally disposed upstanding hollow boss and provided with hollowupstanding flutes radiating from said boss and opening thereinto, and arigid dome member provided with a peripheral portion conforming to andresting on the crown and flutes in spaced relation to the periphery ofthe crown, said'donie member being secured at its periphery to the crownand centrally spaced from the boss and flutes.

8. In a hatof the type described, a dome like rigid crown provided withradiating upstanding flutes, a rigid vertical body portion having anupper inwardly tapering margin adapted to interfit snugly and engage theinner wall of said crown adjacent the edge thereof, said body portionbeing provided with an oflset or shoulder at the junction of saidvertical portion and said tapering margin. and the edge of said crownresting against said ledge and means for fastening said interfittingparts together.

9. In a hat of the type described, a dome like rigid crown provided withradiating upstanding flutes, a rigid vertical body portion having anupper inwardly tapering margin adapted to interfit snugly and engage theinner wall of said crown adjacent the edge thereof, and means forfastening said inter-

